Camarillo moves forward with plans for Springville development

The Camarillo City Council on Wednesday voted to move forward with a housing development plan that would bring more affordable units to the future Springville project.

In a 4-1 vote, council members approved further discussions with AMLI Residential officials, who are planning to develop 15 acres in the Springville Specific Plan area. Councilwoman Charlotte Craven voted no.

Chicago-based AMLI proposed to provide $100,000 over the next five years to the city of Camarillo, which in turn would redirect the funds to the Ventura County Housing Trust Fund.

The Ventura County Housing Trust Fund also plans to request Proposition 1C funds for affordable housing projects throughout the county. The trust fund has already received funding commitments from the cities of Ventura, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Santa Paula and the county totaling to $950,000.

"At some point in time, a formal housing agreement will come forward to the city council to implement the project and (AMLI's) request for modifications," said Robert Burrow, community development director.

The Springville Specific Plan includes about 1,350 new homes in the surrounding area and developments for mixed-use and retail.

The AMLI development would include 375 apartment units in 15 acres. About 20 percent of the units would be set aside for low income residents, Burrow said.

Under the proposed housing agreement and Camarillo's allocation of the $100,000 to Ventura County Housing Trust Fund, the city would have a seat on the group's board, Burrow said.

"We are still negotiating with a couple of cities and other nonprofits who might want to participate in the trust fund," said Linda Braunschweiger, the trust fund's chief executive officer, to council members. "Your funds will be leveraged between eight to 10 times ... and everything we get from Prop 1C for the county will be matched."

Braunschweiger said they plan to apply for Prop 1C funds by the end of October.

Meanwhile, Camarillo continues to move forward with the Springville interchange construction, which will include a six-lane overcrossing. New onramps and offramps will merge with the existing Highway 101 north and southbound lanes. The proposed interchange overcrossing will connect to the north and will extend Verdulera Street.

Ponderosa Drive will be widened to four lanes from Las Posas Road to the new interchange and Springville Drive. Ventura Boulevard will also be extended east and west of Springville Drive.

Under the proposed housing agreement, AMLI also committed to provide Camarillo with an additional $50,000 over five years to fund the "211" program and another $100,000 for other housing projects in Camarillo.

In exchange, AMLI officials asked to add nine more units to the proposed apartment complex and adjust certain construction standards, including building height, setbacks and RV parking, Burrow said.

"Following all the problems we have with RV parking, I really don't like giving that up," Craven said. "I think if you can allow less of it, but to give it up completely ... would cause problems. They can write it in their lease that you can't park there, but that doesn't mean (residents) won't buy one and park it in somebody else's neighborhood."

The city's planning commission and city council would still have to approve the final plans, Burrow said. Construction could start by mid-2012.